As a teenager in Winnipeg, Jack Bownass came up through the Manitoba Amateur Hockey Association, playing with the Winnipeg Rangers. In 1947-48, Bownass joined the Winnipeg Blackhawks of the Western Junior Hockey League, where he played for three years.

At the age of 20 in 1950, Bownass turned professional with the Sarnia Sailors of the IHL. From there Bownass bounced around on no less than seven minor-league teams in Quebec and Seattle before getting the opportunity to play in the NHL at the age of 27. During the 1957-58 season, Bownass was signed as a free agent by the Montreal Canadiens. Although the Canadiens had no immediate plans to use him in their lineup, the New York Rangers liked what they saw and was claimed in the Inter-League draft in June, 1958. He played in 35 games with the Rangers that year, and followed that up with a 37-game effort in 1959-60.

In 1962, Bownass was sold to the Los Angeles Blades for cash and was named the team's player/coach that same year. Bownass continued to play pro hockey with an assortment of clubs, including the Canadian National Team right up until 1969-70, at the age of 39. He was also a staunch supporter of the NHL providing more assistance to country's national teams. He felt the best way for that to happen was for the NHL to raise the draft age from 20 to 21 or 22 which would then allow university hockey to flourish and give the kids an education which Bownass pointed out was necessary for the vast majority of players, who had to work following their hockey careers. Ironically, years later, the league has gone in the opposite direction, allowing those as young as 18 to be eligible to play in the league and with skyrocketing salaries, Bownass' idealistic plans of yesteryear now are nothing more than a distant memory.

From 1964-69, the balance of his time was devoted to coaching, but Bownass would occasionally insert himself into a team's lineup if he felt it needed a kick. Bownass' last official game came during the 1970-71 season, where he suited up for one playoff game with the Omaha Knights of the CHL.

In 80 NHL games, Bownass scored three goals and eleven points.

REGULAR SEASON

PLAYOFFS

Season

Club

League

GP

G

A

TP

PIM

+/-

GP

G

A

TP

PIM

1946-47

Winnipeg Rangers

MAHA

1947-48

Winnipeg Black Hawks

MJHL

1

0

0

0

0

1948-49

Winnipeg Black Hawks

MJHL

29

3

2

5

16

1949-50

Winnipeg Black Hawks

MJHL

36

3

7

10

76

6

1

1

2

12

1950-51

Sarnia Sailors

IHL

3

0

0

0

0

1950-51

Detroit Hettche

IHL

43

6

7

13

101

3

0

0

0

4

1951-52

Shawinigan Cataractes

QMHL

49

0

3

3

84

1952-53

Chicoutimi Sagueneens

QMHL

38

2

4

6

59

1953-54

Sherbrooke Saints

QHL

71

9

17

26

111

5

1

0

1

4

1954-55

Montreal Royals

QHL

56

5

27

32

88

14

1

2

3

8

1955-56

Seattle Americans

WHL

65

10

22

32

131

1956-57

Trois-Rivieres Lions

QHL

62

7

16

23

75

4

0

4

4

4

1957-58

Montreal Canadiens

NHL

4

0

1

1

0

1957-58

Montreal Royals

QHL

61

3

31

34

120

7

0

6

6

21

1958-59

New York Rangers

NHL

35

1

2

3

20

1958-59

Buffalo Bisons

AHL

21

3

9

12

26

1959-60

New York Rangers

NHL

37

2

5

7

34

1959-60

Springfield Indians

AHL

16

0

0

0

37

1960-61

Kitchener-Waterloo Beavers

EPHL

70

1

36

37

110

7

0

4

4

12

1961-62

New York Rangers

NHL

4

0

0

0

4

1961-62

Kitchener-Waterloo Beavers

EPHL

62

6

40

46

119

7

2

0

2

0

1962-63

Los Angeles Blades

WHL

67

4

24

28

55

3

0

1

1

0

1963-64

Los Angeles Blades

WHL

53

2

19

21

65

1963-64

Baltimore Clippers

AHL

15

0

4

4

27

1964-65

1965-66

Winnipeg Rangers

MJHL

1966-67

Canada

Nat-Tm

1966-67

Canada

WEC-A

7

0

2

2

12

1967-68

Hull Nationals

Que-Sr.

24

0

13

13

21

1968-69

Ottawa Nationals

OHA-Sr.

4

0

0

0

2

1968-69

Canada

WEC-A

4

0

0

0

4

1969-70

Canada

Nat-Tm

1970-71

Canada

Nat-Tm

1970-71

Jacksonville Rockets

EHL

8

0

0

0

2

1970-71

Omaha Knights

CHL

1

0

0

0

0

NHL Totals

80

3

8

11

58

MJHL Second Team All-Star (1949) IHL Second All-Star Team (1951) QHL First All-Star Team (1958)

Signed as a free agent by Montreal, October 21, 1954. Loaned to Seattle (WHL) by Montreal for the 1955-56 season, November, 1955. Claimed by NY Rangers (Buffalo - AHL) from Montreal (Montreal Royals - QHL) in Inter-League Draft, June 3, 1958. Traded to Los Angeles (WHL) by NY Rangers for cash, September, 1962. Named player coach of Los Angelels (WHL), September, 1962.